From: "Robert Comer" 

> Since then, Russia has been experimenting with a forward-swept-wing
> derivative of the Flanker, called the S-37 Berkut. "

We tried that over here too, the X-29, had some interesting performance
characteristics.

--
Bob Comer





"Adam"  wrote in message
news:44e47950$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> http://www.afa.org/magazine/Aug2006/0806world.asp
>
> " Russian Rival to the F-22?
> Russia will start flight-testing a fifth generation fighter—the equivalent
> of the F-22—next year and begin production in 2009, Russian officials
> claimed in June.
>
> Russian Air Force chief Gen. Vladimir Mikhailov said several
>  “experimental” examples of the new I-21, built by Sukhoi and a successor
> to the Su-27 Flanker family, will fly in 2007 with placeholder engines
> while the production-version engines complete development.
>
> Sergei Ivanov, Russian Defense Minister, said production of the I-21 will
> commence in 2009 “with a new engine.” The remarks of the two defense
> officials were carried by Novosti, the official Russian news and
> information agency.
>
> Mikhailov earlier had compared the new fighter to the F-22 and F-35,
> claiming that it has stealth, advanced integrated avionics, and high
> maneuverability. He has suggested the I-21 will be an alternative for
> countries that don’t want to buy the American F-35.
>
> Russia has made grandiose pronouncements about fifth generation fighters
> before. It rolled out the MiG I-44 in 1994, claiming it to be a fifth
> generation fighter, but its appearance suggested that it was not at all
> stealthy, and its performance was judged comparable to the Su-27. The
> project was abandoned in 1997.
>
> Since then, Russia has been experimenting with a forward-swept-wing
> derivative of the Flanker, called the S-37 Berkut. "
>
>
> Adam

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